Local business buzz

Comment

The Kansan - Newton, KS

Writer

Posted Dec. 1, 2013 at 4:19 PM

Posted Dec. 1, 2013 at 4:19 PM

Newton, Kan.

Walmart and Salvation Army organize toy drive

Walmart and the Salvation Army have announced the second annual "Fill the Truck" Toy Drive, which will bring hundreds of thousands of toys to children across the country. The toy drive kicked off on Nov. 29 and is part of Walmart’s long-standing partnership with the Salvation Army, which also includes the iconic red kettle campaign.

The Fill the Truck Toy Drive will take place beginning Nov. 29 and ending Dec. 15 in 1,600 stores across the country, including more than 75 Walmart locations in the state of Kansas and the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area. Collection bins also will be located inside 3,500 Walmart stores during the entire three week period. Customers will be able to drop off new, unwrapped toys at the trucks or in the bins through Dec. 15.

“Walmart has been such a big supporter of the Salvation Army, and we are so appreciative of all the hard work they put into Fill the Truck,” said Major Ron Busroe, national community relations and development secretary for the Salvation Army. “This year, Fill the Truck is reaching even more customers and our hope is to provide more children with a Christmas toy that they would not receive otherwise.”

The Fill the Truck toy drive is part of Walmart’s more than 40-year partnership with the Salvation Army. This year, the Walmart Foundation donated $1 million to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, which will be applied to the Salvation Army feeding programs nationwide. In addition, Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs will host the Salvation Army’s red kettles and bell ringers between Nov. 29 and Dec. 24.

Last year, Walmart and Sam’s Club helped the Salvation Army raise almost $45 million, about 30 percent of the total amount raised during the campaign. All donations made to the red kettles remain in the local communities in which they are collected, and will help the Salvation Army provide food, clothing, shelter, financial assistance and other services to roughly 30 million people this year.

Walmart also launched its “Holiday Salute to Military Families” on Veteran’s Day. The initiative provides a total of $1.5 million in support to Operation Homefront and Fisher House to help spread holiday joy to soldiers and their families. The donation will provide toys, meals and lodging assistance to those military families in greatest need of support this year, while also helping to reunite active duty service members with their loved ones, just in time for the holidays.

Stark recently joined Dr. Brian Kynaston and Dr. Matthew Perry in their McPherson practice. He has worked as a general dentist in Derby, Wichita and Hutchinson.

Page 2 of 2 - Stark, a native of Newton, enjoys cycling, running, reading and spending time with his three children. He also enjoys being involved in the community especially as it relates to education.

He attended Wichita State University and the University of Texas, Austin, and received his DDS from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Dutcher, a licensed psychologist, and Neace, a licensed specialist clinical social worker, attended two three-day workshops in which they received training in EMDR. They also used the EMDR protocol on several Prairie View patients to complete the required consultation sessions.

Both see patients at Prairie View’s east Wichita office at 9333 E. 21st St. N.

“When a person is held back from doing things he or she would like to do by feelings of insecurity, fear, depression, etc., the reason can generally be found in the memory networks,” Dutcher said. “Many times the problems are unprocessed memories from the past that are influencing the present.”

EMDR relies on a standard protocol that utilizes eight stages and integrates components of the past, present and future. The treatment requires the patient to focus on an image, thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations associated with a distressful event. EMDR also utilizes a bilateral stimulation that may involve eye movement or something as simple as holding pulsars.

EMDR is considered an evidence-based psychotherapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by the American Psychological Association and the Department of Defense.

“This specific therapy helps children and adults in the same way,” Neace said. “EMDR enables patients to heal from symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. The life experiences vary from traumatic memories due to PTSD or distress related to an upcoming event.”